Article of repose for supporting the body of a person



Feb. 19, 1957 LORENZ 2,781,825

ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Jan. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR H NTON LORENZ ATTORNEY A. LORENZ Feb. 19, 1957 ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Jan. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR F! NTON LO REN'Z.

BY ATTORNEY Feb. 19, 1957 LORENZ 2,781,825

ARTICLE OF REFUSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Jan. 28, 1954 5 She s-Sheet 3 A w V 2.558 530 552 a 556 5% 560 570 586 542 INVENTOR HNTON LORENZ ATTORNEY United tates atent ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Application January 28, 1954, Serial No. 406,738

24 Claims. (Cl. 155---106) This invention relates to articles of furniture and more particularly to an article of repose for supporting the body of a person wherein a unit including a back-rest and a seat rigid with each other is rockably mounted on a support.

An object of the invention is to provide a leg-rest control arrangement for an article of repose of above described type, by means of which the leg-rest is swung upwardly and propelled forwardly .away from the seat, when the unit comprising the back-rest and seat is swung about its pivot on the support from the sitting position into a reclined position, so that the supporting part of :the leg-rest in the elevated position of the latter is extended to such a degree that a full support of the legs of a tall person resting on the article of furniture is assured.

Another object of the invention is to improve on the construction of articles of repose for supporting the body of a person, as now ordinarily made.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view .of .a reclining armchair according tothe invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a'side'elevational viewof another embodiment of a reclining arm-chair according to the invention, a portion of a side 'frame being broken away,

Fig. 3 'is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a reclining arm-chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 4'is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of a-reclining arm-chairaccording to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 5 is aside elevational view of a further embodiment of a chair according :to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away, and

Fig. 6-is'a side elevational viewof another embodiment of a reclining-chair according to the invention,-a portion of 'a side frame being broken away.

Referring now to Fig. '1, '10 generallyindicates a support'comprising side walls Hand 14 connected with each other by cross bars '16 and a rear wall 18.

20 generally indicates a unit comprising a back-rest 22 and a seat 24 rigid with each other. Said vunit 20 has a downward extension 26 rockably mounted on the support at 2.8.

The .upper'end of Iaj'first controlling link 30 is pivoted to the seat 24 of the unit at 32. .The upper end of a secondeontrolling link'34 is pivoted to the seat portion 24 .of the .unit f20 at apoint '36 spaced from thepivotal connection .32 of the first controlling link .30 with the .seat =24. An intermediate point of a first controlling bar 38 is pivoted to an intermediate point of the second controlling link 34 at 40,-.so that-said controlling bar and said controlling link cross :each other. The rear end portion of the first controlling bar 38 is pivoted to the 2,781,825 Patented Feb. 19, 1 957 lower end portion of the first controlling link 30 at 42 and the front end portion of said first controlling bar 38 is pivoted to a leg-rest 44 at 46. The rear end portion of a second controlling bar 48 is pivoted to the lower end of the second controlling link 34 at 50; the front end portion of said second controlling bar 48 is pivoted to the leg-rest 44 at 52 at a point below the pivotal connection 46 between the leg-rest 44 and the first controlling bar 38.

The rear end of a first connecting link 54 is pivoted to the downward extension 26 of the unit 20 at 56. The front end of said connecting link 54 is pivoted .at 58 to a controlling member 60 being in the shape of a link swingably mounted at its upper end on the support 10 at 62. The rear end of a second connecting link 64 is pivoted to the lower end of the controlling member 60 at 6.6

and the front end of said second connecting link 64 is pivoted at 68 .to the second controlling link 34.

When the unit 20 is swung backwardly from the sitting position, shown in full lines, into the reclined position 20', shown in dash-and-dot lines, the linkage 54, 6.0, 64, 34, 38, 48 and 30 described above causes a lifting of the leg rest .44 and a forward propelling thereof into the position 44'.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is limited by a stop 70 mounted on the support 10 and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair is limited by an abutment of the unit 20 against the upper edge 72 of the rear wall 18.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, again, the lower extension 126 of the back-rest-seat .unit is swingably mounted on the support 110 at 128.

Also, the leg-rest control comprises the first controlling link 130 and the second controlling link 134 pivoted to the seat portion 124 of the unit 120 at 132 and 136 respectively. The first controlling bar 138 is pivoted :to the first controlling link 130, the second controlling link 134 and the leg-rest 144 at the spaced points 142, and 146. The second controlling bar 148 is pivoted to the second controlling link 134 and the leg-rest 144 at the spaced points 150 and 152.

According to Fig. 2, however, the lower end of the controlling member is swingably mounted on the support 110 at 166 and the first connecting link 154 coordinating the movements of the controlling member 160 with the movements of the unit 120 is pivoted to said controlling member 160 at 158 and to the seat portion 124 of the unit 120 at 174. One end of a second connecting link 164 is pivoted to the upper end of the controlling member 160 at 16.6, the other end of said second connecting link 164 is pivoted to the second controlling link 134 at 165.

A stop arranged on the support 110 limits the sitting position of the movable members of the chair,

above.

The controlling member 260 swingably mounted on the support 210 at 262 is controlled by the first connecting link 254 pivoted to said controlling member 260 at 258 and to a lug 27605 the seat 224 at 274.

The-movements of the swingable controlling member 260:316 transmitted to the leg-rest control .230, 234,238,

2.48, 244 by meansof a second connecting l-ink264pivoted 3 to the first controlling link 230 at 278 and trolling member 260 at 266.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair, shown in full lines, is limited by a stop 270 arranged on the support 210. The extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair, shown in dashand-dot lines, is limited by the upper edge 272 of the rear wall 218 of the support 210.

The embodiment of an arm-chair shown in Fig. 4, substantially corresponds to the embodiment of the arm-chair shown in Fig. 3. However, according to Fig, 4 the upper end of the controlling member 360 is swingably mounted on the support 3l0 at 362 and the upper end of the first connecting link 354 is pivoted at 374 to the seat 324 proper. The second connecting link 364 is pivoted to the controlling member 366 at 366 and to the second controllinglink 334 at 368.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair, shown in full lines, is limited by the step 370 and the extreme rec-lined position of the movable members of the chair, shown in dash-and-dot lines, is limited by the edge 372 of the rear wall 318 of the support 310.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the unit 420 comprising the back-rest 422 and the seat 424 is swingably mounted on the support 410 at 428.

Again, a first controlling link 430 and a second controlling link 434 are pivoted to the seat 424 at the spaced points 432 and 436. The first controlling bar 438 is pivoted to the first controlling link 430, the second controlling link 43-; and the leg-rest 444 at 442, 440 and 446. The second controlling bar 448 is pivoted to the second controlling link 434 and to the leg-rest 444 at 450 and 452 respectively.

A controlling member 469 in the shape of a doublearmed lever or bell-crank lever is swingably mounted on the support 410 at 462. The upper arm 480 of the controlling member 460 is pivoted at 482 to a connecting link 455 forming an arm-rest. The rear end of the connecting link 455 is pivoted to the back-rest 422 of the unit 420 at 484.

The lower arm 486 of the controlling member 460 is pivoted at 466 to the rear end of another connecting link 464, the front end of which is pivoted at 478 to the first controlling link 430.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair, shown in full lines, is limited by a step 470 arranged on the support 410 and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair, shown in dash-anddot lines, is limited by another stop 471 arranged on the support 410.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the extension 526 of the back-rest-seat unit 520 is swingably mounted on the support 510 at 528. The rear end of a connecting link 566 is pivoted to said extension 526 of the unit 520 at 556. The front end of said connecting link 566 is pivoted at 553 to a controlling member 560 swingably mounted on the support 510 at 562. The lower end of said controlling member 560 carries a roller 588 being in abutting arrangement with the first controlling link 530 swingably mounted on the seat 524 at 532. The second controlling link 534 is swingably mounted on the seat 524 at 536. The first controlling bar 538 is pivoted to the first controlling link 530, the second controlling link 534 and the leg-rest 544 at 542, 540 and 546 respectively. The second controlling bar 548 is pivoted at 550 to the second controlling link 5534 and at 552 to the leg-rest 544.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair, shown in full lines, is limited by a stop 579 and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair, shown in dash-and-dot lines, is limited by the upper edge 572 of the rear wall 518 of the support 510.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in shape to the conand proportion of parts, as well. as the substitution of equivalent elements for those therein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Each of the embodiments shown in the drawings may be equipped with locking means for holding the movable members of the chair in any desired position.

What I claim is:

1. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a unit including a back-rest and a seat rigid with each other, said unit being rockably mounted on said support, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, a le -rest, a first controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first controlling link, said second controlling link and said leg-rest, a second controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said second controlling link and said leg-rest, said first controlling bar and said second controlling link crossing each other at the pivotal connection connecting same with each other, and means positioned between said unit and one of said two controlling links to move the latter in response to the rocking movement of said unit so as to produce a movement of the leg-rest in dependence on a movement of said unit.

2. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, the pivotal connection of the first controlling link with the seat being spaced from the pivotal connection of the second controlling link with the seat.

3. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, the pivotal connection of the first controlling bar with the legnest being spaced from the pivotal connection of the second controlling bar with said leg-rest.

4. In an article of repose as claimed in claim I, said means being positioned between said unit and said first controlling link.

5. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said means being positioned between said unit and said second controlling link.

6. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said -means being positioned between the seat portion of said unit and one of said two controlling links.

7. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said unit including a downward extension rigid therewith, and said means being positioned between said downward extension of the unit and one of said two controlling links.

8. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said means including a linkage operatively engaged with said unit and one of said two controlling links.

9. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said means being in pivotal engagement with one of said two controlling links.

10. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said means being in abutting engagement with one of said two controlling links.

ll. An article of repose 'for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a unit including a back-rest and a seat rigid with each other, said unit being rockably mounted on said support, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, a leg-rest, a first controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first controlling link, said second controlling link and said leg-rest, a second controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said second controlling link and said leg-rest, said first controlling bar and said second controlling link crossing each other at the pivotal connection connecting same with each other, a controlling member swingably mounted on said support, a first connecting link pivoted at spaced points to said unit and to said controlling member, and a second connecting link pivoted at spaced points to said controlling member and to one of said two controlling links.

12. In an article of respose as claimed in claim 11, said second connecting link being pivoted to said first con trolling link.

13. In an article of :respose as claimed in claim 11, said second connecting link 'being pivoted to said second controlling link.

14. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 11, said unit including a downward extension rigid there with, and said first connecting link being pivoted to said extension.

15. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 11, said first connecting link being pivoted to the seat portion of said unit.

16. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 11, said first connecting link being pivoted to the seat portion of said unit, and said second connecting link being pivoted to said first controlling link.

17. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 11, said first connecting link being pivoted to the seat portion of said unit, and said second connecting link being pivoted to said second controlling iink.

18. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 11, the 'lower portion of said controlling member being swingab ly mounted on said support.

19. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 11, the lower portion of said controlling member being swingabEly mounted on said support, said first connecting link being pivoted to the seat portion of said unit, and said second connecting link being pivoted to said second controlling link.

20. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 11, the upper portion of said controlling member being swingab ly mounted on said support.

21. An'articie of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a unit including a back-rest and a seat rigid with each other, said unit being rockably mounted on said support, a first controlling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling link pivoted to said seat, a tleg rest, a first controiling bar pivoted at spaced point-s thereof to said first controlling link, said second controlling link and said leg-rest, a second controlling bar pivoted alt spaced points thereof to said second controlling link and said leg-rest, said first controlling bar and said second controlling link crossing each other at the pivotal connection connecting same with each other, a controlling member swingab'ly mounted on said support, a connecting link pivoted at spaced points to said unit and to said controlling member, and cooperating abutting surfaces arranged on said controlling member and one of said two controlling links.

22. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a unit inciuding a back-rest and a seat rigid with each other, said unit being rockably mounted on said support, a first contnol ling link pivoted to said seat, a second controlling iink pivoted to said seat, a leg-rest, a first controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first controlling link, said second controlling link and said lleg-rest, a second controlling bar pivoted at spaced points thereof to said second controlling link and said leg-rest, said first controlling bar and said second control'ling link crossing each other at the pivotal connection connecting same with each other, a controiling member swingably mounted on said support, a connecting iink pivoted at spaced points to said unit and to said controlling memher, and cooperating abutting surfaces arranged on said controlling member and said first controlling 'link.

23. An improved leg-rest and control arrangement for use in a chair including a support and body supporting means having a seat and a back-rest rigid with each other and rockably mounted on said support for rearward movement into a reclined position, said arrangement comprising a leg-rest disposed adjacent the forward end of said seat, a first four-bar linkage having two spaced apart pivotal connections to said leg-rest and including as one link thereof the portion of said leg-rest intermediate said pivotal connections, a second four-bar linkage connected to and carrying said first four-bar linkage, said second four-bar linkage having two spaced apart pivotal connections to said seat for movement therewith, said second four-bar linkage including as one link thereof the portion of said seat intermediate said pivotal connections, at least one link of said first four-bar linkage having a portion common with a link of said second four-bar linkage, and linkage means coupling said backrest to one of said four-bar linkages for raising said legrest to an extended portion substantially at the level of said forward end of said seat when the back-rest is rocked rearwardly toward said reclined position.

24. An improved leg-rest and control arrangement for use in a chair including a support and body supporting means having a seat and a back-rest rigid with each other and rockably mounted on said support, said arrangement comprising a leg-rest disposed adjacent the forward end of said seat, a first link pair including a first link pivotally supported on said seat and a second link pivotally carried by said first link, a second link pair including a third link pivotally supported on said seat and a fourth link pivotally carried by said third link, one link of said first pair having a pivotal connection to one link of said second pair, said second and fourth links being connected to and supporting said leg-rest at spaced points thereof, said first link, said third link, the portion of said seat between the pivotal connections of said first and third links to said seat and a further portion of said first link pair constituting a first four-bar linkage, said second link, said fourth link, the portion of said leg-rest between the pivotal connections of said second and fourth links to said leg-rest and a further portion of said second link pair constituting a second four-bar linkage, and linkage means coupled to said back-rest and to one of said link pairs for coordinating movement of said leg-rest to movement of said back-rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 195,395 Pope Sept. 18, 1877 654,352 Norcross July 24, 1900 1,118,938 Laurich Dec. .1, 1914 2,664,942 Spear Ian. 5, 1954 2,672,919 Luckhardt Mar. 23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,394 Sweden May 13, 1905 378,346 Italy Ian. 31, 1940 

